Congratulations to our friends at the Columbia Museum of Art (CMA) for being named the 2016 National Medal Winner! This is known as the nation’s highest honor that can be awarded to museums for service to their communities, and it is greatly deserved.

Each year, the National Medal Winner is selected by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s museums and libraries.

The Columbia Museum of Art was selected for its arts educational outreach efforts to at-risk, rural and underserved communities. The purpose of these unique programs is to enrich lives and engage minds in ways that encourage students of all ages to connect in creative and innovative ways.

“Our recognition as a national award winner is as much about the CMA as it is about the generosity and spirit of South Carolina,” said Karen Brosius, the museum’s executive director. “With dynamic exhibitions and educational programs for every age, the CMA is redefining the modern museum.”

The Columbia Museum of Art will receive the National Medal on June 1 at an award ceremony in Washington, D.C.